## What is a scientific publication?

Scientific publications are written by and for scientists. They are intended to share research findings. This allows scientists to engage in dialogue and build on each other’s knowledge.

Publications are important for scientists. The success of a scientific career partly depends on how many publications a scientist produces, in which journals they are published, and whether the publications are cited.

# How can you tell if a publication is scientific?
When you start studying, it can be difficult to determine whether an article or book is scientific. To recognize a scientific article, you should at least find the following elements:

- the name(s) of the author(s), including information about their institutional affiliation
- a summary (abstract) on the first page of the article
- references to other literature within the text and a reference list (an overview of the sources cited) at the end of the article
- a methods section explaining how the research was conducted